The Gateway School, a leading school for learners with special education needs, is dedicated to helping learners with special needs achieve their full potential by providing excellent educational opportunities and developing each learner holistically.

In its efforts to empower the learners with the skills and knowledge they need as they prepare to graduate, the school often partners with corporates to expose the learners to various skills. Over the last four years, The Gateway School has been fortunate enough to have Caleon Garden Creations as a committed partner in exposing the learners to the world of work.

In the latest group assigned to Caleon Garden Creations, AfriSam, a leading construction materials company also came on board to support this worthy cause.With a factory in Rietfontein, Caleon Garden Creations is a manufacturer of a wide range of concrete products such as tables, benches, pots, water features and much more. Its products epitomise creativity and artistry in the use of concrete. Over the past 4 years, as part of its giving back to society, the company takes in a group of 3 or 4 learners at a time and exposes them to the art of concrete creations. Through a well-structured mentorship programme that sees the management and employees take these youngsters under their wing, learners are given the opportunity to learn multiple skills and create their own art.

For AfriSam, an organisation whose commitment to community upliftment and empowerment is unrelenting, this cause couldn’t be more fitting. The company directs much effort on initiatives that are sustainable and enable the beneficiaries to be self-sufficient, creating concrete possibilities for them and their families.

“We are very excited to be a part of this initiative and inspired to see the work that Caleon Garden Creations has been doing with The Gateway School. Going forward, we would like to continue in this partnership and ensure we do our part to make this initiative possible”, said Adele Wentzel, Sales Manager for AfriSam.

At the completion of their practical block, learners were very excited to show off their creations and exuded confidence in working with concrete. It was a proud moment for all involved as they witnessed first-hand, the achievements that these learners attained and their keenness to showcase their art.

Speaking at the event, Ferdi de Wit owner of Caleon Garden Creations, had this to say, “For my team and I, working with The Gateway School is heart-warming and a tradition that we are proud to carry through. It is our greatest pleasure to impart skills that these young learners can use. Hopefully, we have inspired them to build on these skills and be able to create their own businesses in the future. This is our way of contributing to the upliftment of society and with each group that joins us, we are always inspired by the commitment from the school.Speaking on behalf of The Gateway School, Karen Botha, an Occupational Therapist at the school, had this to say,

“We are equally touched that there are people who understand our needs and are committed to helping our cause. Our continued partnership with Caleon Garden Creations and now with AfriSam gives our learners opportunities to learn new skills but more importantly, it helps them build confidence in their abilities and shows them just how much more they are capable of. For that, we are grateful.”

Note to Editor:

AfriSam is the leading black-controlled concrete materials group in southern Africa and the only established cement manufacturer to hold a Level 4 B-BBEE rating. Since establishing its first cement plant in 1934, the company has grown into a formidable construction materials group with operations in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Tanzania. From its seven cementitious manufacturing facilities, 17 quarries and 43 readymix operations, the group has the capacity to produce in excess of 5 million tons of cement, 10 million tons of aggregate, 800 000 tons of slagment and 2 million cubic meters of readymix concrete annually.

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MAXINE NEL
AFRISAM
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